UF Football Players Ride Along with Police Officers

Published June 15th, 2009

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You can call it career shadowing.

Several UF football players will get the chance to see what goes on every day at the Gainesville Police Department. And at the same time, officers get to learn more about life from a college player's point of view.

The Gators are used to the spotlight after winning two national championships in three years. In recent months, it's their off-the-field activities that have garnered attention.

Several UF players have been arrested, and now they may be bettering their image by riding along with Gainesville police officers.

In response to his players' arrests, Coach Urban Meyer said to ESPN: "This group of players we have now are by and large a pretty good group. They are 18 to 22 years old and like most young people, they are trying to find their way. It is a continual part of our program to mentor and guide our players, and it is not an exact process."

Even national media outlets are pressing Meyer to take a harder stance on his players' actions.

GPD Capt. Ed Book said these ride-alongs are not a result of recent activity from the players. Instead, they were arranged before the arrest of Janoris Jenkins.